So just what do you think of the Glee character Lauren Zizes? Is she a good role model--fat and fabulous? Or is she just gross and gauche?
Who or what is Lauren Zizes as played by Ashley Fink? When we first meet her, she's on the wrestlng team in the episode "Wheels" (11 November 2009). That should be a clue that the writers don't know much about wrestling.
Lauren was portrayed as a goth in "Theatricality" (leader of a Twilight fan club 25 May 2010) and "Special Education" (30 November 2010) and is, apparently dateless as part of Sue's "Old Maid's Club" in "Hell-O" (13 April 2010) There she appears in clothes that would make any goth want to drive a dagger through the heart.
In "Laryngitis" (11 May 2010) she gets paid in Mallomars and Snickers by Rachel for rigging hidden mics in the choir room (to prove no one else is really singing). In "Britney/Brittany" (28 September 2010) she was the girl who screams that she wants to have Mr. Schuester's baby. That's while Mr. Schuester and New Directions performs "Toxic" and just before Sue pulls the fire alarm.
Puck may be a chubby chaser, but Lauren is Deus Ex Machina. I'm not sure that the Fox writers understand what I mean, but deux ex machina is a plot device by which a problem is magically revolved. She has and continues to be whatever the writers want her to be according to the plot.
Lauren is no longer a goth, just like Tina. Lauren doesn't appear to have a thing for Mr. Schuester any more and that wasn't so long ago--not even for a high school student. Her romantic forays with Puck seem out-of-character with the kind of girl who would slobber over Mr. Schue.
You might have guessed, that means I find her gross and gauche. Is that a matter of her weight? Yes. Ashley Fink is obese. The character is supposed to be a female wrestler who competes against men. High school and collegiate wrestlers have at least two things in common with high school and collegiate gymnasts: They both compete on mats and the sport seems to be plague with bulimia.
According to Bret Maurras, "the sport of wrestling places demands for a slim, lean body build." Another website on bulimia states that "males on a wrestling team are 7 to 10 times more likely to develop bulimia than those who do not participate on the wrestling team."
There are girl wrestlers. Last year according to the National Federation of State High School Associations, over 6,000 girls competed and in most states, these female athletes competed against boys. California, Hawaii, Texas, Washington and Tennessee are the few states that have girls-only high school wrestling matches. In Iowa, a young man defaulted in order to avoid wrestling a young woman according to an ESPN article.
Take a look at those very serious competitors. Do they look even vaguely like Lauren Zizes? Does Lauren look like she would have problems with bulimia? Does Lauren look like an athlete at all? With the exception of Artie, Sam, Finn, Puck and even Mike look like they could play on the football team. Why the diss on the only female athlete?
If Lauren wants to make it to college on a wrestling scholarship, why would she want to make a sex tape with Puck to become famous?
Lauren hasn't given us, as Rosie O'Donnell put it, a Susan Boyle moment. Even a large woman, could dance, but she doesn't seem to have the moves either. With all those cheerios without a coach, you'd think a few would have wandered in and joined Quinn, Santana and Brittany.
What does the Glee community have to say on Fox's official Glee Website?
There are some like John who is happy she's around:
Altho she is no subsitute for kurts talent in ND, when kurt finally comes home, i hope she stays and becomes part of ND. And perhaps like the rest she will find a home within the New direction family
Others like Empire wrote:
I respectfully have to disagree. In my opinion she is the least likeable or interesting character so far. She does not have a good attitude and doesn't seem to fit into ND.
TJ wrote:
I also hope she sticks around because (and I know this is going to sound bad), not everyone can be one of the beautiful people. For a bunch of misfits, the current Glee club members are very attractive and some are even hot (Puck! Santanna!) I personally like the addition of someone who doesn't fit the super gorgeous mode.
I love the previous posters idea about Puck being freaked out by being attracted to her. That could be a hilarious storyline!
The question came up can she sing. So far we haven't heard it and that's part of the disappointment. Can she dance?
Says Momma:
Zizes - I don't care if she can sing. She can't dance and I'm all done with the characters who think - at least outwardly - that being in Glee stamps you as a dork. I'd much rather see Kurt replaced by someone who is dying to be a member but has not had the courage to sing out. Get rid of her.
"Dancing with the Stars" has shown that a thick girl can move and so has Broadway from "Ain't Misbehavin'" to "Hairspray."
Where do you stand?
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